Don’t you just love spring? We’ve had an unseasonably cool spring down here in Atlanta. However, I won’t complain because before I know it, I’ll be cursing a summer heat wave.
Aside from my writing, I love to take photographs. I’m always snapping a photo of anything and everything. I can’t tell you how many photos I have that are “book” related. From settings and people, to inspiration and theme. It’s a fun hobby and helps fuel more of my creative spirit for writing my novels.
This afternoon I was in the backyard with Fergles and found these neat things growing on a tree. It’s been in our backyard for years and years and I’ve never noticed those beautiful flowers until this spring. Weird.
It’s been eons since I took any classes related to dendrology. Yes, that is the official term for the science and study of trees. So I did what inquiring minds do when they have a question - Google. 
I found the ArborDay Foundation’s Tree Identification Guide. After answering a series of questions, voilà, I had my answer. Bonus points if anyone can identify what type of tree this is. (Or you can find the answer below) Enjoy…
This is a Liriodendron tulipifera, or more commonly known as: Yellow-poplar, Tulip-poplar or Tuliptree. Pretty right? Now let me figure out how to work this into a young adult novel.
Hmmm – I’m visualizing a scene where the boy and girl are in the park. He sees the tree and stops under it. He plucks a beautiful tulip-like flower from the tree and hands it to her. Or maybe he puts it behind her ear. Sure it’s a little cliché, so it needs a little work, but you’ve got to admit, it’s kind of romantic. And that’s what I write. Young adult romance.